According to chapter 142 of the 2010 promulgated Constitution;
(1) The President shall hold office for a term beginning on the date on which the President was sworn in and ending when the person next elected President is sworn in, in accordance with Article 136 (2) (a)
(2) A person shall not hold office as President for more than two terms.
Following the abolition of section 2A of the previous constitution, the two-term limit went into effect prior to the 1992 elections and was preserved under the 2010 Constitution.
However, to pass a proposal of this magnitude, both Houses of Parliament would need to be joined by two-thirds of the members, and a simple majority of Kenyans would also need to approve it in a vote.
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This comes after reports from Fafi MP Salah Yakub, alleged that a section of UDA MPs intended to eliminate the two-term limit and replace it with a 75-year age limit. If this motion was to pass, President William Ruto, who is 55 years old, could rule Kenya for up to 20 years, making him eligible to run in 2027, 2032, and 2037 elections.
In a statement dated Tuesday, November 8, President William Ruto’s UDA party, dispelled reports distancing themselves from Fafi MP Salah Yakub’s comments regarding the presidential term limit, insisting that it was only eager to support President William Ruto in following through on his campaign promises.
“Remarks by Fafi MP Salah Yakub that there are plans to extend term limits for the President are a product of a fertile imagination by the legislator. UDA distances itself from the utterances by the MP.” said the party in a statement.
Dennis Itumbi, a digital strategist and ally of President William Ruto, also claimed that the proposed changes were not approved by President Ruto.
“This move does not enjoy the signature or the nod of President William Ruto – I oppose!” said Itumbi.
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